On September 21, the Inland
Northwest Council, Boy Scouts of America made
a decision to demolish historic Finch Lodge at Cowles Scout Reservation on Diamond
Lake. The council plans to bulldoze the National Historic
Register-eligible old lodge and build a new, larger dining hall in its
place.

The members of savefinchlodge.com are disappointed
and confused by this incomprehensible decision.

Demolition expenses (costs of SEPA, demolition permit,
adhering to environmental guidelines and hauling and properly
disposing of the waste)added to the cost
of bulldozing, reinforcing and paving a new access road to the old lodge
site (to handle semi truck food delivery, large garbage trucks,
etc.) could exceed the
modest costs of a full restoration of Finch Lodge (for use as a
seasonable facility). The costs of maintaining a road year round could
equal a refurbished lodge's ongoing maintenance costs. Building closer
to North Shore Road avoids enough expense to fund refurbishment of historic
Finch Lodge. Consider also the additional donations, historical grant
money and positive publicity that a restoration project could bring to the
Council and the Board's unexplained plan is completely unfathomable.

The Save Finch Lodge Group respectfully urges
each board member to carefully re-consider this decision. More
information is now available that should be objectively evaluated.
We believe a positive public image of Inland Northwest Scouting is
essential if the council is to effectively serve future generations
of area youth.
The Inevitable evocation of the noble scouting traditions that exude
from our iconic old lodge can either benefit or hurt the council.
The board can unite
scout volunteers and gain public respect by preserving Finch Lodge
and building the new dining hall on a more sensible site.
We can
think of no valid reason for the Council to persist in alienating
potential supporters (scouters or general public). Why destroy
Finch Lodge? Why spend the additional
money to build the new dining hall on the Finch Lodge
site?

Were the complete, unbiased facts laid out for the full
board? - Along with the scores of letters pleading the case for saving
Finch Lodge? Can anyone explain why the board would choose a plan that
spends precious donation dollars to create a "false sense of history"*?
Especially considering the kids could have a well-designed new dining hall in a
safer, more convenient location and the real Finch Lodge
for less total expense? (Read a few of the
more provocative questions and rumors)

How do they not "GET IT"?

Finch Lodge is a
building that Cub Scout aged kids would think jumped out of a storybook. This gem
would be a valuable
asset to a successful Cub Camp not an obstacle. It is a cultural (and financial) resource to the Boy Scouts of America and to the citizens of
Washington State. A
new building can be functional but it can neither feel the same nor carry the
same historical information to future generations as the old lodge does. Note that Sports
and Computer camps have new
cafeterias, Cub Country could offer all that plus have activities in a unique,
Story-book Finch Lodge.

It is unfortunate that the
board has thus far chosen to ignore the input of scores of Scout Volunteers, Scouts, Scout
parents, former scouts, Diamond Lake Residents, The Pend Oreille County
Historical society, The editor of the Whitman County Gazette, Washington
Trust for Historic Preservation, Spokane Preservation Advocates, Washington Department of Archaeology and
Historic Preservation and numerous interested members of the public. This input overwhelmingly advocates preserving Finch Lodge.

This struggle will not be finished until either 1) the board revises their plan
to include preserving Finch Lodge or 2) the last volunteer is unchained from
their beloved lodge and the bulldozers roll.
On this web site, we will try to lay out facts that the Council's official
communications have not addressed. We will clarify or challenge some
alleged facts. We will attempt to clarify that which the Council and
Executive Board paint over with broad strokes of inspirational prose.

Finch Lodge was built in 1923 and was designed by noted architect, Julius A.
Zittel. The substantial, rustic iteration of the craftsman style overlooks
Diamond Lake. Unfortunately, exterior vinyl siding applied in the 1980’s
currently hides the original clapboard siding and trim detailing. The expansive
indoor walls and ceiling are covered by knotty pine tongue & groove paneling
installed about 60 years ago. Massive stone fireplaces stand at each end of the
space and an amazing balcony with gothic-styled wooden railing runs around the
inside of the main hall. Properly restored, this building would be a real
treasure for The Boys Scouts of America and Pend Oreille County, WA. The
architect, Julius A. Zittel designed 6 buildings on the EWU campus (Showalter
Hall, Monroe, Sutton, etc.), Gonzaga University’s Administration Building,
Gonzaga’s Monaghan Mansion, St. Aloysius Cathedral, and Mount St. Michaels in Spokane. He also designed Kootenai
County Courthouse and at least 11 other buildings currently listed on the
National Register of Historic Places.